Rajendra Kumar's Laptop sent to FSL, can't release now: Court

A special court today said laptop and iPad of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's principal secretary Rajendra Kumar, against whom a graft case has been lodged, cannot be released at this stage as they are under forensic examination but asked CBI to return the seized cash.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Jain said as the electronic items have been sent to CFSL, Hyderabad by CBI, they cannot be released to Kumar but granted him liberty to move a fresh application later when his laptop and iPad would be brought here after examination.
The court, however, directed the CBI to return the cash amount of Rs 2.39 lakh which was seized during the December last year raid, and asked Kumar to furnish a surety bond.

Kumar, in his plea, had sought the return of his articles as investigation was over and the items would be of no use to the probe agency. He had also said the agency could keep the back-up of data stored in the laptop and iPad but release the articles as well as the seized cash.
CBI, in its reply, had said that it cannot release the laptop and iPad at this stage as they have been sent for forensic analysis at Hyderabad.
It, however, had said it has no objection in releasing him the cash amount, provided that Kumar furnishes a security of the like amount.

On December 15 last year, CBI had raided the office of Rajendra Kumar, close to the Chief Minister's office here, in connection with the case.

According to CBI, "Rajendra Kumar had played an active role in the process of promising and facilitating award of tender to a pre-determined party i.E., M/s Endeavour Systems Pvt Ltd due to extraneous considerations and devoid of public interest which shows clear element of abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy among the accused persons including the Directors of the present applicant company."
CBI had registered the case against Kumar and others on the allegations that the officer had abused his official position by favouring the firm in the last few years in getting tenders from Delhi government departments.

Kumar has been booked under section 120-B of IPC (criminal conspiracy), and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly favouring the company in five contracts worth Rs 9.5 crore during 2007-14.